Spade-Leaf Sword / Creeping Burhead

Description

Echinodorus cordifolius, commonly known as the Spade-Leaf Sword or Creeping Burhead, is a large and impressive aquatic plant well-suited for background placement in spacious freshwater aquariums. Native to the Americas—from the southeastern United States to South America—it naturally grows in marshes, ditches, ponds, and swamps, often in emersed conditions.

In the aquarium hobby, this species is prized for its bold, ovate leaves, which can reach over 30 cm (12 inches) in length. While it is most often sold in its emersed form from plant farms, it will adapt to submerged conditions once introduced into an aquarium. However, the initial transition may involve the melting of its emersed leaves as it begins to grow submerged foliage.

Lighting and water conditions: Echinodorus cordifolius thrives under moderate to high light and benefits significantly from CO₂ supplementation and a nutrient-rich substrate. It is a heavy root feeder, so substrates containing clay or regular use of root tabs are ideal for encouraging vigorous growth. While not overly fussy about water hardness or pH, this plant prefers tropical temperatures and soft to neutral water for optimal development.

Due to its large size and fast growth, this species is best kept in large, deep aquariums where it can serve as a dramatic focal point or background plant. In smaller tanks, it may quickly outgrow the space. Trimming or removing its floating leaves can help control its size and keep it fully submerged.

Flowering and propagation: When grown emersed (especially in open-top tanks or paludariums), E. cordifolius produces long, arching flower stalks with whorls of small white flowers. It propagates readily via seeds or plantlets that develop along the inflorescence, and it may also produce runners.

Several cultivars are available:

• ‘Marble Queen’ (or Tropica Marble): Features attractive variegated leaves but loses its marbling in low light. Prefers strong lighting, CO₂, and a rich substrate.
• ‘ovalis’: A more compact form with rounded leaves, ideal for smaller tanks (grows ~35 cm tall).
• ssp. fluitans: Fast-growing and better suited to large aquariums, with large submerged leaves that may sit just below the surface.

Whether used submerged in aquascapes or emersed in ponds or ripariums, Echinodorus cordifolius adds structure, beauty, and ecological function to aquatic environments.